This is the first tea that I am sampling from this month’s Amoda Tea Tasting Box. This box seems to be focused not only on St. Patrick’s Day, but also on spring.

When I first brewed this Irish Cream Black Tea from Shanti Tea, I thought it might be an Irish Breakfast type blend that has been flavored with a vanilla cream flavor … but as it turns out, it is more like an “Irish Cream” flavor … and I taste very subtle hints of cream liqueur along with the overtones of vanilla cream. YUM!

And this is indeed yummy! The cream note is well-defined, and it enhances the overall cup really nicely. It adds a pleasing creamy taste, eliminating the need to add dairy to the cup for that desired creamy note. The vanilla also accentuates the malty tones of the Assam tea in this blend. (At least, it certainly TASTES like Assam is in this tea!) The liqueur note is subtle, but, I like how it weaves its way in and out of the sip.

Because of what I believe IS Assam in this blend, it’s important not to over-steep this tea. I steeped my cup for 2 1/2 minutes and I’d say that is just about perfect. Any longer and I think this would have a slightly bitter tone, but, as it is, this is tasting just right. There is a moderate astringency to the cup.

This is an extraordinarily rich cup of tea – a great tea with which to start your day. Just enough sweetness to it … and a whole lot of gusto!

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Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see.
Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog!
Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!